Newport

The Newport was born in 1988 on the initiative of Jean-Claude Herbelin, son of founder Michel, who poured into it his personal taste and the family's passion for sailing. The name and inspiration recall Newport, Rhode Island, historic host of numerous editions of the America's Cup: an explicit reference to the world of regattas reflected from the very first model, a 34 mm gold-plated round case with center lugs, an essential dial and a ship's helm motif at 12 o'clock, which over the years has become the line's distinguishing mark.

Over the following decades the Newport expanded well beyond its original quartz-only setup: automatic versions arrived, along with women's variants, and in 2003 the Newport Royale, a rethinking of the line for a female audience with mother-of-pearl and diamonds. In 2007 the Newport Trophy Grand Sport debuted, with a more markedly sporty aesthetic, using materials such as ceramic and chronograph versions; in 2017 came the Newport Connect, presented by the brand as the first French smartwatch, while the line's thirtieth anniversary in 2018 was marked by a restyling in a more contemporary key.

The most recent executions, including the Diver versions with a rotating ceramic bezel and water resistance up to 300 meters, give the Newport a more markedly sporty setup while still keeping the helm as its identifying element. Having become over the years the brand's flagship product — according to the company, the line accounts for about 45% of total revenue — the Newport has, in its first 35 years, surpassed 500,000 units sold.